Read Models’ Reactions To Vogue’s Announcement That It Will No Longer Hire Models Under 16

Last month, Talent Management told you all about how The Health Initiative, a pact between the 19 international Editors of Vogue to encourage a healthier approach to body image within the industry, was announced. As part of the agreement, Vogue promised to not knowingly work with models under the age of 16 and to ask modelling agents to not to knowingly send them underage girls and casting directors to check IDs when casting shoots, shows and campaigns.

Model Trish Goff
Model Trish Goff

Last month, Talent Management told you all about how The Health Initiative, a pact between the 19 international Editors of Vogue to encourage a healthier approach to body image within the industry, was announced. As part of the agreement, Vogue promised to not knowingly work with models under the age of 16 and to ask modelling agents to not to knowingly send them underage girls and casting directors to check IDs when casting shoots, shows and campaigns.

Since the announcement, we’ve read a whole range of reactions from people in the industry, some positive and some not so. But here we find out what the models themselves think…

“I truly commend Vogue for taking a serious interest in the protection of young people. I grew up in this business and while my mother always travelled with me for work, I met many young models over the years who weren’t as protected as I was. There were never any rules implemented for young workers who could easily work for up to 16 hours a day while unsupervised. This action by Vogue helps place a new set of values on an industry that truly needs reform.” – Milla Jovovich

“It’s thrilling to me that 19 editions of Vogue have agreed to setting concrete standards for the models they use. Like any industry, models need and deserve these standards of employment and treatment. Not every model appears in Vogue, but every model and every publication looks up to them as the standard bearer. I can only imagine this will prove to be a solid step in a direction that will benefit models for generations to come.” – Coco Rocha

“I am very pleased to hear of Vogue‘s Health Initiative announcement this week. It is a step in the right direction and I wish this was around when I had started modelling. I hope this will spark more discussion on this very important issue.” – Amy Lemons

“This is a move in the right direction, although the age could be 17. Teenagers should be featured in Teen Vogue.” –  Trish Goff

“The Model Alliance welcomes Vogue‘s pledge to not knowingly work with models under the age of 16, or who appear to have an eating disorder. Most editions of Vogue regularly hire models who are minors, so for Vogue to commit to no longer using models under the age of 16 marks an evolution in the industry. The use of underaged models is linked to financial exploitation, eating disorders, abandoned schooling, and contributes to models’ overall lack of empowerment in the workplace. We hope other fashion brands and magazines will follow Vogue’s impressive lead.” – Sara Ziff, Model Alliance founder